The interior of the appendix is stuffed with mucus, stool, or parasites and that???s why it swells. It???s blood supply is cut off as a result of swelling, so the appendix start to die, rupture occurs and the content of the appendix is released in the abdomen. When the appendix perforates peritonitis appears. Appendicitis is considered an emergency, so one needs to see immediately a physician. Appendicitis may occur after a viral infection in the digestive tract or when the tube between the appendix and large intestine is trapped with stool.
Factor risks in appendicitis
Appendicitis affects many people of all ages every year, in children is the common reason for abdominal surgery. It has been observed that frequently appendicitis appear during winter months - between October and May, especially in males and in those persons with family history of appendicitis.
Symptoms
We list here the most common symptoms in appendicitis, although every individual has his own manifestations. First of all pain in the abdomen that starts in the area around the belly button and moves lower to the right side of the abdomen, increases in severity, is worse when breathing, coughing, moving, sneezing. Other symptoms are: loss of appetite, fever, nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, inability to pass gas. Do not take any laxatives or enemas if you feel like you are having appendicitis.
B because sometimes appendicitis may mistaken with any other abdominal disease you should visit a physician as quick as possible.
The physical examination of the patient and its history help you put a correct diagnosis. Diagnostic methods to confirm diagnosis are necessary for example a very usefull one is counting white blood cells which becomes elevated in infections. In mild appendicitis white blood cells are normal, or mild elevated. Drop test consists of: standing on the tip of the toes and drop to the heels, if you feel a sharp pain to the appendix area, the appendicitis is confirmed. If you push on the other side of the abdomen where the patient reports the pain, quickly remove the pressure the pain will be felt in the appendix area.
Elevated temperature and moderate and severe tenderness in the right lower abdomen when the doctor pushes there suggests that the diagnosis is of appendicitis, sometimes there is rebound tenderness which means that when the doctor pushes on the abdomen and quickly releases his hand the pain comes suddenly worse and intense for a short period.
